Messman Promoted To Head Coach

Aug 17, 2010

BUENA VISTA, Va. Former assistant volleyball coach Ricky Messman
has been promoted to head coach for Southern Virginia
Volleyball. Messman will succeed Brian Pendleton, who stepped down
to focus his duties as the Men's Basketball head coach, and to
focus in his new position as Athletics Fundraising Director.

"First, I want to thank Brian for the wonderful job he did with
the program," said Acting Athletic Director Deidra Dryden. "Brian
took the program to three straight post-season appearances, and it
is a stable and thriving program because of his efforts. When we
were looking to make a change, we wanted to get someone who could
build off of what Brian did, and Ricky immediately came to mind.
Having worked with the team last year, he understands what kind of
players the team has, and what it will take to get them to the next
level."

Messman's first coaching experience came last year, as the
Knights made a return trip for the third time to the USCAA National
Tournament, and again took home third place. Before his time on the
bench, Messman had coached little league basketball in the Buena
Vista area. Messman played a year for Southern Virginia's men's
soccer team.

Although a relative beginner at coaching, Messman possesses a
tremendous amount of l knowledge, having played consistently at the
elite youth level in California. Messman was a four year varsity
member of Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA, and was a three year
captain for the team. No stranger to other sports, Messman also
earned letters in cross country and soccer.

After his time at Pioneer, Messman served a mission for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. A liberal arts major, Messman is married to his wife
Jessica, who is a member of the women's soccer team at SVU. The
couple lives in Buena Vista.